Brutus Ten

Brutus Ten

This Brewtus Ten was built completely from 2″x2″ steel square tubing based on Lonie’s original plans. Let’s face it, if we didn’t need it for brewing, we  could always use it as a car stand. This brew stand was built to last.

From left to right, our Brewtus Ten beer brewing system consists of a boil kettle, mash tun, and hot liquor tank. All three of which were created from modified kegs with tig welded fittings.

The boil kettle is quite simple. It consisted of a ball valve, dip tub, and a mash screen. I just toss whole hops into the boil and the mash screen filters them out. (more…)

Mash Tun Temperature Probe Placement

Mash Tun Return

There has been lots of discussion as to the proper placement of the temperature probe in the mash tun. In fact, it took me three different placements to find one that works well. I, like you, want my mash temperature to be as stable as possible.

My temperature probe location is at the top of the kettle nearest the actual mash return. I wanted to know the actual temperature of the wort that is being returned into the kettle and not the temperature of the grain bed. With this setup, I have been able to regulate the temperature of my mash within one degree which is confirmed by the lower thermometer.
The heart of my system is the BCS-460 which allows me numerous options. I constantly recirculate the wort through a pump during mash. The mash tun resides above a propane burner which is connected to a Honeywell brand gas valve. I am not a big fan of the ASCO system since it lacks safety features. The gas valve is controlled by the BCS-460 based on the readings from the temperature probe. (more…)

Carboy Thermowell / Love Temperature Probe

Thermowell in a Carboy

This article was written as follow-up to the previous article titled “Fermentation Temperature Control”. If you have any intent on duplicating a tasty beer, you need to have some process controls in place. Simple things can change your beer such as fermentation or mash temperatures. Let’s face it…. Most of us can crush the same amount of grains for the mash and add the same amount of hops to the boil.

If you ferment your beer inside a carboy, (or even a conical) a fermentation temperature control is easy to make. The picture to the left is a caboy with a sixteen inch stainless steel thermowell and an orange colored carboy hood. Two sizes of carboy hoods are available, one for a 6.5 gallon carboy and one for a 5.0 gallon carboy. The carboy hood comes with two attachments. One is used to connect a blow-off tube. Vnyl hoses size 3/8 and 1/2 inch work great. The other attachment port is for the thermowell. Slide the thermowell into the center most port. Make sure to purchase a flared thermowell so it completes the seal and acts as a stopper. It would make a person really unhappy if you pushed your thermowell all the way into the ”soon to be beer” because the end wasn’t flared.

Love Temperature Sensor

If you are familiar with the love temperature control, you know they come with a temperature probe. The temperature probe has a black rubber-likea coating on it. Depending on what thermowell you decide to purchase, the coating causes the temperature probe to be too thick to fit. To remedy this, I removed the coating from the temperature probe using a razor knife. I have not had any issues with the probe by removing the coating.

Puterbaugh Farms, Hops Direct LLC

Puterbaugh Farms, Hops Direct

Nestled in the fertile Yakima Valley of Washington is a place called Puterbaugh Farms. As a home brewer, it is better known as Hops Direct. Puterbaugh Farms is a fourth generation hop farming family that produces quality hops for brewers.

According to their website, the family forefathers were farmers in France and migrated to Canada and then onto Mabton. Puterbaugh Farms currently produces 11 different hops varieties.

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Rogue Ales Brewery in Newport Oregon

Rogue Ales Brewing

Rogue Ales Brewery was opened in Newport, Oregon, with a small but enthusiastic customer base, made up of curious locals who dropped by to see what was going on and never left. Rogue claims to be a small revolution, which expresses itself through handcrafted Ales, Porters, Stouts, Lagers and Spirits, and this is the way they conduct their business. Rogue ales are currently available in 50 states and 21 countries.

You may have seen a Rogue Ale in a store near you such as Dead Guy or Double Dead Guy Ale.  These beers use John Maier’s proprietory yeast strain, Pacman Yeast.  The Dead Guy Ale recipe kit is available to Home Beer Brewers through Brewcraft USA. In fact, everything but the yeast can be purchased in these kits. The Pacman yeast can be purchased seperately.

Nestled inside the Rogue Ales Brewery, is a  two story brewpub which offers a panoramic view of Yaquina Bay and the marina. You can enjoy the full line of Rogue brews, brewery tours, and 50 taps. The Menu features “the World’s Greatest Burger’s”, the American Kobe beef burgers. If you are in Newport, Oregon, this place is worth a visit! Visit Rogue Ales Brewing website at http://www.rogue.com.

Take a youtube video tour of Rogue Ales Brewery lead by Rogue Ale Brewing tour guide Chris Garret.

Fermentation Temperature Control

Love Temperature Control Box

After completing numerous home batches of beer and realizing that I did not have any control over my fermentation temperature, I decided to build a simple little device which I labeled the “Fermentation Temperature Control” (or FTC for short). 

This device works great for those want to ferment inside a refrigerator or freezer and have digital control over the process. The device pictured is installed on the side of a freezer.

The device consists of an electrical box, an outlet, and a LOVE brand temperature control. The LOVE control comes with a temperature sensor which I place inside the carboy by way of a stainless thermowell. You could also place the temperature probe (in a thermowell) inside a glass of water which is stored inside the freezer or refrigerator. Ambient air readings are not as accurate using the Love style temperature sensor.

The freezer or refrigerator is set to its coldest setting. The Refrigerator or freezer is plugged into the Fermentation Temperature Control outlet.  That’s all there is to it. Set the Love Control to the appropriate temperatures and watch your fermentation temperatures hold steady!

BCS-460 Temperature Control System

BCS 460 Temperature Control by Embedded Control Concepts

This Temperature Control has to be one of the coolest beer brewing gadgets I have had the chance to utilize. It truly takes temperature sensing and control to the next level. Their control systems are true network appliances. Each system employs a custom embedded web server, which allows all process monitoring and control to be done via web browser. Plug a BCS-460 into your network and control your process from any computer with internet access. (more…)